Some carpets are made with very thick piling, which can be very comfortable for walking around in bare feet. These types of carpets, though, can hide crumbs more easily and be more difficult to clean. This kind of carpet is probably not a good fit for a family that has children and pets crawling around on the floor. If children will be crawling and playing on the floor, you want a carpet that is easy to keep clean and less likely to hide little things that a baby could pick up and put in their mouth.

Another line of defense: Unfortunately, as great of a job as the previous tip is for keeping your carpet cleaner than ever, it's a little optimistic to think that nobody will wear shoes in the house. Whether it's that pesky neighborhood kid, an unruly in-law, or your husband, it's inevitable. Fortunately, there are measures that can be taken to combat the unavoidable. Doormats at all entrances to your house kindly remind people to take their shoes off or at least wipe their feet before entering. When I go over to someone's house, my mind is often consumed by not committing some other egregious faux pas and the shoe thing slips my mind. Yet often when I see that mat I suddenly remember and kick them off -just wish I had remembered to wash my feet. Also, high traffic areas will often succumb to wear and tear, like my grass example, even if everyone who enters the house is gliding around on slippers. Runners on high traffic areas keep the carpet cleaner underneath and protect the carpet from moisture. Protectors to keep your carpet cleaner are a good idea as well for food areas. Food and drink accidents are the nuclear bombs of the carpet world and just one mishap can ruin a rug because for some stains, there is simply not enough carpet cleaner in the world. It might seem obvious, but clean it up the best you can as soon as possible and just try to minimize the damage.